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Friday, March 28, 2014

Blog tour: Third Degree by Julie Cross + review & giveaway

We are one of the stops on the Third Degree blog tour hosted by ATOMR Tours. Third Degree is an addictive and engaging New Adult contemporary romance by Julie Cross and we have our review up today. There's a giveaway too!

Fans of Monica Murphy and Tammara Webber will savor this New Adult novel—a story about coming of age in the heat of the moment—from Julie Cross, the internationally bestselling author of the Tempest trilogy.

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

Advance
praise for Third Degree

“With quirky characters, laugh-out-loud
moments, and a touching romance, Third Degree is a refreshing entry in the New
Adult genre. I can’t wait to read what Julie Cross comes up with next!”—Roni
Loren, bestselling author of Need You Tonight

“I fell for quirky, brainy, socially
awkward child prodigy Izzy and even more so for her sweet, compassionate, and
hot RA, Marshall. I was rooting for their happily-ever-after and was sighing
with satisfaction by the end.”—Christina Lee, author of the Between Breaths
series

“Loved! Fans of Huntley Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door and Tammara Webber’s Easy will fall hard for this
book.”—Krista Ritchie, co-author of the Addicted
to You series

This is my first Julie Cross book and all I can say is why didn't I read this author sooner? Third Degree is a fun, entertaining, touching story about love, acceptance and a slew of other things. Izzy is a refreshing main character--a child prodigy and a doctor at 18--think of the kid doctor from TV (Doogie Houser). Quirky, intelligent, but her social skills suck. Izzy finds this out when she isn't accepted for a residency program at a hospital. Izzy has failed the 'emotional readiness test' and finds herself at college at eighteen (she already has degrees).

Campus life is a rude awakening for a social misfit. Izzy wants to fit in, but how can she when her intelligence level is off the charts but her social skills aren't? Enter RA Marshall Collins. He helps Izzy adjust, learn to cope, embrace her inner geek and live a little. They grow closer but he's a RA and doesn't do relationships. At the heart of Third Degree lies this wonderful complex, often humorous, other times poignant relationship between Izzy and Marshall. She'll tutor him in his weak subject, he'll help her act like a regular eighteen-year old. But what exactly is normal? They help each other balance their weaknesses by highlighting their individual strengths. I loved their scenes together. Talk about flirty, romantic and sexy!

I'm ecstatic that Third Degreeisn't a typical New Adult contemporary romance. The author really makes her couple stand out from many of the others who become stereotypical with their characteristics and story lines. Izzy retains her intellect, isn't put down, but rather encouraged to allow herself some time to breath--to mature, to grow up. With age comes experience-compassion-and then she'll be able to pass the requirements for her residency. She finds this with Marshall. I loved how they became friends first. There wan't any typical I-love-you within days. Their relationship was realistic and that is the main reason why Third Degree will stick with me. Izzy and Marshall have quickly climbed to the top of my favorite couples of 2014 list.

Rating: 4

Cover comment:

I have seen this couple grace the covers of many books within the last couple years. They're prominently featured on Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series and other books so I'm tiring of them.

Book source:

Netgalley

About the Author

Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois
with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime
gymnastics fan, coach, and former gymnastics program director with the YMCA.
She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the
young adult and New Adult genres.She’s also a committed (but not talented)
long-distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar
weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail
and gym shoe addict.